Kentucky Woman Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Wheelchair Mishap During Disembarkation from Mardi Gras
Alicia McCoy, a resident of Kentucky, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-25120-JB, alleges that McCoy sustained serious injuries after falling from a wheelchair while being assisted by a crew member during disembarkation from the Carnival Mardi Gras on October 19, 2024.
Carnival Passenger Injured When Crew Member Allegedly Mishandled Wheelchair on Steep Disembarkation Ramp
According to the complaint, McCoy was a paying passenger aboard the Mardi Gras who required wheelchair assistance to exit the vessel. She alleges that Carnival assigned a physically unfit crew member to assist her despite her specific request for a more capable attendant. The crew member allegedly pushed the wheelchair at high speed toward a steep ramp and lost control, crashing the wheelchair into the ramp and causing McCoy to be ejected onto the ground.
McCoy contends that the incident occurred in a non-obvious hazardous area and that she had no warning of the risks involved. The lawsuit emphasizes that Carnival was responsible for both the crew member’s actions and the overall disembarkation process, including selecting staff and ensuring safe ramp conditions.
Carnival Accused of Failing to Respond to Requests for Capable Assistance and Ignoring Past Wheelchair-Related Incidents
The complaint includes multiple allegations of negligence, including failure to provide a physically competent crew member, failure to heed McCoy’s concerns about the staffer’s fitness, and failure to supervise the disembarkation process properly. Despite McCoy raising concerns before the incident, Carnival allegedly denied her request for different assistance.
The lawsuit also points to other documented incidents involving wheelchair mishandling during disembarkation aboard Carnival vessels. Cited cases include Anchrum v. Carnival Corporation (passenger injured during wheelchair disembarkation on the Carnival Glory), Phillip v. Carnival Corporation (wheelchair crash on the Mardi Gras), and Harris v. Carnival Corporation (wheelchair toppled on the Carnival Horizon). These prior cases are presented to show that Carnival had actual or constructive knowledge of the dangers associated with improperly managed wheelchair assistance during disembarkation.
Plaintiff Alleges Dangerous Ramp Design and Poorly Supervised Disembarkation Procedure on Carnival Mardi Gras
In addition to crew-related negligence, McCoy alleges that the disembarkation ramp itself was steep and unreasonably dangerous for wheelchair use. She claims that Carnival failed to properly design, inspect, and maintain the ramp, and that it lacked safety features such as adequate handrails, surface traction, or ergonomic slope. Furthermore, the complaint accuses Carnival of failing to incorporate industry-standard risk management protocols and of disregarding accessibility guidelines such as those found in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
McCoy argues that Carnival’s policies and procedures failed to ensure the safety of disabled passengers and that the cruise line did not have sufficient oversight to prevent foreseeable hazards during wheelchair disembarkation.
Lawsuit Brings Multiple Counts of Negligence Against Carnival, Including Vicarious Liability and Failure to Warn
The complaint outlines four counts of negligence: general negligence, negligent failure to warn, negligent failure to maintain, and vicarious liability under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. McCoy asserts that Carnival is responsible not only for the condition of the ramp and equipment used but also for the actions of its employees who were under its direct control.
She seeks damages for pain and suffering, disfigurement, disability, emotional distress, medical expenses, and loss of income. The injuries are alleged to be permanent and continuing, and the complaint notes that her vacation was irreparably disrupted, entitling her to damages for the lost value of the cruise and associated travel.
Injured While Disembarking a Cruise Ship in a Wheelchair? Learn About Your Legal Rights Under Maritime Law
Passengers who suffer injuries while disembarking cruise ships—especially those relying on wheelchair assistance—may have legal recourse under maritime law if unsafe conditions or crew member negligence contributed to the accident. Cruise lines like Carnival have a duty to ensure their procedures, ramps, and assigned personnel are safe and properly managed. If you or a loved one were injured in a wheelchair-related cruise ship incident, contact our experienced maritime attorneys to learn your rights.
Contact us now to speak with a Florida cruise ship disembarkation injury lawyer.
Disclaimer: Our firm does not represent the plaintiff in this case and is not involved in the litigation. The information provided is a summary of allegations based on publicly available court filings. We make no representations about the truth of these allegations, are not commenting on the merits of the case, and are not predicting any outcome.
